Gamers and coaches together with executives for the 2026 Shakey’s Juniors Nationwide Invitationals. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — College of Santo Tomas and two international squads headline the inaugural 2026 Shakey’s Juniors Nationwide Invitationals beginning Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan Metropolis.
Seven groups, together with the California-based Excellent Set Dream Makers and Guam’s Pacific Volleyball Academy, conflict for Shakey’s first-ever nationwide ladies’ title.
“We’re trying ahead to is simply getting the women’ publicity in a brand new nation, letting them play a unique kind of staff, enjoying only a totally different stage of volleyball,” mentioned Excellent Set coach Mackenzie Dorney.
“I feel that having that have might be tremendous helpful for them sooner or later, and even going to a brand new place or simply enjoying several types of groups that play a unique fashion of volleyball.”
The seven groups are the Excellent Set from California, Pacific Volleyball Academy Inc from Guam, UST, One La Salle, Pusong Azul, Arellano College Excessive Faculty and St John’s Institute competing fron July 11 to 18 at Filoil Enviornment. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/JZKK58jefw
— INQUIRER Sports activities (@inquirersports) July 10, 2026
UST takes on Arellano at 1 p.m. on opening day.
The UST Junior Golden Tigresses had solely six remaining members from the staff that accomplished a breakthrough Shakey’s Women Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup Division 1 conquest three months in the past.
UST banks on high setter Andreaj Tan Chun Bing, Nicole Pelaez, Eliz Menchavez and libero Chas Pepito, gunning for a second straight title.
“Our lineup proper now’s totally different from that of the SGVIL. Virtually 3/4 of our staff on this Invitational are new gamers. Most are simply incoming Grade 11,” UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez mentioned.
“Right here within the Invitationals, we wish to see how our new gamers will react to competitors and the way they adapt to our system.”
In different matches, Pusong Azul, composed of Ateneo gamers, battles Pacific Volleyball Academy, whereas St. John’s Institute tackles One La Salle, led by varsity gamers from De La Salle Zobel, Inexperienced Hills and Dasmarinas.
Arellano College and Pacific Volleyball Academy return to motion within the nightcap of the competitors.
Dr. Ian Laurel on staging the Shakey’s Juniors Nationwide Invitational for the primary time with two international groups seeing motion. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/dbuIU16XKR
— INQUIRER Sports activities (@inquirersports) July 10, 2026
The Dream Makers, whose squad is generally composed of Filipinos from California, debut on Monday with back-to-back video games in opposition to One La Salle and UST, respectively.
“Our purpose right here is actually to see how our (native) groups compete with worldwide groups and for these worldwide groups to see how we manage tournaments like these,” mentioned Dr. Ian Laurel, president of organizing Athletic Occasions and Sports activities Administration, Inc. (ACES).
“We wish a long-term purpose of sharing the identical imaginative and prescient with different international locations and strengthening the native volleyball program at this stage.”
Groups play a single round-robin elimination spherical, with the highest 4 advancing to the knockout semifinals. Each the ultimate and the battle for bronze are additionally one-game showdowns.
Elimination video games might be best-of-three units, whereas the semis and remaining matches are best-of-five units.
On June 19, Shakey’s will kick off the collegiate Nationwide Invitationals with six groups.
Overseas groups Ho Chi Minh Volleyball Membership of Vietnam and Australian squad Southern Storm Melbourne will tackle native squads UST, Enderun Schools, Letran Faculty, and Faculty of Saint Benilde.
